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Keen to benchmark against others in the dairy industry and be rewarded for your hard work? The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards recognise a range of achievements and innovations in the dairy industry. By entering, you'll accelerate your learning and development opportunities, you'll challenge yourself and raise the bar. There'll be opportunities to stand out and showcase your skills while being rewarded for your hard work. Read more about our categories and eligibility below.
Dairy Trainee of the Year
If you're currently aged 18-30 and employed on a dairy farm in a full-time position and haven't been employed for more than 3 years on a dairy farm from the age of 18 either continuously or in total as of 1st June 2024, then you may be eligible to enter the Dairy Trainee of the Year Award. During judging you'll be assessed on your general knowledge, your practical skills and some fun tasks to keep things interesting.
Am I eligible?
Aged 18-30
Currently employed full-time on a dairy farm
Not self-employed
Don't have any equity in a dairy farming business
Haven't been employed for more than 3 years on a dairy farm from the age of 18 either continuously or in total as of 1st June 2024
Dairy Manager of the Year
If you're currently employed on a dairy farm in a full-time position and don't have any equity in any dairy farming business and aren't self-employed, the Dairy Manager of the Year Award could be for you. The judges will benchmark you on several topics including people and personal, pasture and feed, livestock, farm, environment and sustainability.
Am I eligible?
Currently employed full-time on a dairy farm
Not self-employed
Don't have any equity in a dairy farming business
Share Farmer
of the Year
If you're a self-employed percentage sharemilker, contract milker, equity farmer or lessee, you could be eligible for the Share Farmer of the Year award. During the judging process, you'll be assessed on a range of factors including people and culture, farm hygiene, health & safety and biosecurity, financial and business acumen, pasture and feed, livestock management, farm environmental and sustainability.
Am I eligible?
Self-employed
Percentage share-milker or
Contract milker or
Equity farmer or
Lessee
Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award
This Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award has been reworked. A simplified nomination process and those nominated are not asked to present or compete for the award. We will announce all confirmed nominations at their regions awards dinner. We will recognise the achievements of the years three exemplars by taking them to nationals, where one will receive this years Fonterra Responsible Dairying award.
The award recognises dairy farmers and businesses who are demonstrating leadership in their approach to Responsible Dairying, a way of conducting a farm business where actions and results demonstrate responsibility and sustainability. Responsible dairying is not just about the environment it also includes management and performance of people, farming systems, finances, animal care and ecosystem, they are all important pillars of responsible dairying.
WORDS FROM OUR FARMERS
"What does responsible farming mean to us? It’s really all-inclusive, it’s environmental sustainability, it’s looking after the land, environment and water, it’s looking after the animals and our people."
- Cameron Henderson, Recipient of the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award 2023
